News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Webster House Closing, but Helzberg has No Plans to Walk Away
By Kevin Collison Faced with a pandemic shut-down and the likelihood its important patron, the Kauffman Center, may remain dark until at least fall, Shirley Helzberg had no choice but to close her labor of love, the Webster House, permanently. “The Kauffman Center isn’t opening until at least fall and the symphony and other arts…
College Towns Hit Census Pothole With Coronavirus
College towns in Missouri and Kansas are concerned that early university closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak could lead to a census undercount of students.
An Earth Day Like No Other
Earth Day 2020 was supposed to be the stage of global protests in cities across the globe. But recent stay-at-home orders in the wake of coronavirus pandemic has made the mission of local climate activist group Sunrise Movement KC more difficult.
Crossroads Community Kitchen aka The Rieger Serves Big Helpings
By Kevin Collison There has been a lot of generous community response to the Covid-19 pandemic locally, but it would be hard to top the The Regier when it comes to an industrial-strength outpouring of good will–and free food. Since mid-March, the fine dining restaurant at 1924 Main has transformed itself into the Crossroads Community…
New Chapter Planned for Historic River Market Water Building
By Kevin Collison The historic Water Building in the River Market is slated for another round of renovation after a previous revival went bust in 2013. Developer Chris Sally has a contract to purchase the brick building at the corner of Second and Main streets. It was built in 1905 to house the stable, warehouse…
Nick’s Picks: Shutdown Protests, Earth Day and the NFL Draft
Nick’s picks for the news of the coming week in Kansas City range from stay-at-home order protests to Earth Day and the Kansas City Chiefs’ draft picks.
Documenting the Pandemic for Posterity
Johnson County Museum has launched an initiative to gather detailed descriptions of daily life to document the age of coronavirus.
Kansas Hospital Bought COVID-19 Tests That May Only Show You’ve Had A Cold
A Kansas hospital bought Coronavirus tests that may only show that you’ve had a cold.
Proposed Freight House District Apartment Project Backtracks Size
(Updated May 7: The developer of the planned Tracks 215 apartment deal lost his national partner this week but did obtain local tax incentives in his quest to build the $52.4 million project in the Freight House District. Vince Bryant of 3-D development told the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority board today that Greystar, a major…
Three Key Ts: Testing, Tracing and Treatment in a Post-Pandemic Economy
Now is the time to learn from the COVID-19 outbreak or there will be no escaping the worst of the pandemic and economic collapse.